EPH 2:1-10

Alive with Christ

1And you, being dead in your trespasses and sins — [2:2] in which you once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience — [2:3] among whom we all also once lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the wills of the flesh and of the thoughts, and we were by nature children of wrath, as also the rest. [2:4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [2:5] even we being dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you are saved. [2:6] And He raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, [2:7] in order that in the ages that are coming He may show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [2:8] For by grace you are saved through faith — and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God — [2:9] not from works, so that no one may boast. [2:10] For of Him we are the workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that in them we may walk.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of 'age' often referred to the current order of the world, shaped by spiritual and societal forces. The 'ruler of the authority of the air' would have been understood as a malevolent spiritual power influencing human behavior, a common belief in both Jewish and pagan thought. The 'desires of the flesh' were seen as natural inclinations toward self-gratification, often in conflict with moral or spiritual ideals. The phrase 'children of wrath by nature' reflects the Jewish and Stoic idea of inherent moral corruption or predisposition to sin. For Gentile readers, this would resonate with their own cultural narratives of human frailty and divine judgment. The emphasis on God's mercy and grace contrasts sharply with the Roman patronage system, where favor was earned through merit or social standing. The term 'workmanship' evokes the image of a skilled artisan, suggesting divine intentionality and craftsmanship in the believer's transformation.

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How other translations render this

EPH 2:1

KJV: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
BSB: And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Koinōnos: And you, being dead in your trespasses and sins —

EPH 2:2

KJV: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
BSB: in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
Koinōnos: in which you once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience —

EPH 2:3

KJV: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
BSB: All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
Koinōnos: among whom we all also once lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the wills of the flesh and of the thoughts, and we were by nature children of wrath, as also the rest.

EPH 2:4

KJV: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
BSB: But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Koinōnos: But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

EPH 2:5

KJV: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
BSB: made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
Koinōnos: even we being dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you are saved.

EPH 2:6

KJV: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
BSB: And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Koinōnos: And He raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

EPH 2:7

KJV: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
BSB: in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Koinōnos: in order that in the ages that are coming He may show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

EPH 2:8

KJV: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
BSB: For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Koinōnos: For by grace you are saved through faith — and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God —

EPH 2:9

KJV: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
BSB: not by works, so that no one can boast.
Koinōnos: not from works, so that no one may boast.

EPH 2:10

KJV: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
BSB: For we are Godʼs workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
Koinōnos: For of Him we are the workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that in them we may walk.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

EPH 2:2

age:The word translated 'age' refers to a distinct period of time characterized by particular moral or spiritual conditions, rather than simply a duration of years.
authority:The term translated 'authority' here implies not just power, but also the right or permission to exercise that power, often with a sense of delegated or legitimate control.

EPH 2:3

by nature:The phrase 'by nature' refers to an inherent, inborn characteristic or disposition, something that is fundamental to one's being from birth.

EPH 2:10

workmanship:The word translated 'workmanship' carries the sense of a created thing, a product or masterpiece, emphasizing the skill and intention of the one who made it.